The RB position was changed quite a bit over the past few seasons. Teams want to bring in RB and run them to death and not pay them. Being an RB in this league right now is a tough position. This draft class of rookie RB is quite deep and many landed in good spots. I give you a dynasty breakdown of the top rookie RB selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. I address both SuperFlex and standard league value. This list is not a ranking but more of a breakdown of the 2020 NFL Rookie RB class. I will have a Part 2 that breaks down some of the later rookie RB draft selections.

Check out my Dynasty Rookie Post-Draft Analysis on other positions here : QB, RB Part One, RB Part Two

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

It was a shock to many that CEH was the first rookie RB off the board. However, if you follow me on Twitter, I called it Thursday afternoon. I don’t know what led me to the idea that CEH would be joining Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, but it just felt right. Edwards-Helaire caught 55 passes in 2019, and I know this highly influenced the Chiefs’ decision here. I love this landing spot for Clyde and he is one of my favorite rookie RB now.

When you join one of the best offenses in the league, your value is going to skyrocket. I thought that Damien Williams wasn’t a terrible option at RB for their offense. However, Williams struggled to stay healthy in 2019 and the Chiefs had nothing better to do than to take the 5th rookie RB on most people’s boards and make him a star. Clyde Edwards-Helaire will go in the Top 4 picks in SuperFlex rookie drafts. CEH will go in the Top 2 of standard rookie drafts. The landing spot is huge here for this bowling ball of an RB.

D’Andre Swift

Many people were upset, including Swift himself when the Chiefs took CEH as the first back off the board. I mean can you imagine D’Andre Swift in the Kansas City offense, woof– would have been dangerous. As the board flipped over into the 2nd round, Swift’s name was called shortly as the Detroit Lions were on the look for their next Barry Sanders. Has there been an organization with worst RB over the last 20 years than the Detroit Lions? The Lions struggled last year as Kerryon Johnson went down with injury again. Ty Johnson and Bo Scarbrough “attempted” to carry the load.

Now, I know Swift isn’t too happy with this destination but there is no excuse as to why he can’t be the workhorse back in this offense. Kerryon hasn’t shown that he is capable of being their next franchise back. Swift should be the Day 1 starter. Matthew Stafford will invite Swift in with open arms as it will help him a ton. Stafford made backs like Theo Riddick relevant in the passing game. Swift will be a late 1st round pick in SuperFlex rookie drafts. In standard rookie drafts, I expect him to go as early as the 1.05.

Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor was my #1 back going into the 2020 NFL Draft. After Day 1, I was disappointed that Taylor didn’t go to the Chiefs but I had one team in mind for him. I was hoping that he would go to the Colts and they made a great choice here. If you don’t believe my Colts prediction, go check out PropMe where you can build props and play against your friends. Jonathan Taylor may not have landed on the most electric offense. But, he landed on the team with the best offensive line in the league. Quenton Nelson is one of the best offensive linemen in this league. Nelson will go down as one the greatest ever.

The Colts brought in Philip Rivers on a one year deal in hopes to bring their team back to the playoffs in 2020. I think they brought in Rivers to get them one step closer to Trevor Lawrence. Rivers just doesn’t have it anymore. His arm trajectory angle isn’t as strong as it once was and it has led to a drastic increase in interceptions. Jonathan aylor will do very well in Year 1 behind the Colts’ strong offensive line. Marlon Mack will get some carries but Taylor is the long-term star for this team. Taylor will go in the Top 3 picks in SuperFlex rookie drafts and will be a Top 2 pick in rookie standard drafts.

J.K. Dobbins

If you heard that Dobbins landed on the Baltimore Ravens, you would be jumping with joy. There is no excuse that you shouldn’t be. The Ravens bowled over the rest of the NFL in 2019 with their elite rushing attack. Usually, when a team has such an elite rushing attack, they have an all-pro RB and a nasty FB leading the way. However, the true threat of the Ravens rushing attack is Lamar Jackson. Mark Ingram is 30 years older and just came off one of the best years of his career.

I like Dobbins going forward. This is the whole point of dynasty leagues here. Yes, Dobbins may not get the full workload in 2020, but he will do enough to earn himself the role in 2021. If you are patient enough to wait it out, Dobbins is going to have a large return. Between Lamar and Dobbins, teams won’t know how to stop the Baltimore Ravens. In SuperFlex rookie drafts Dobbins will go around the 1.05 to 1.09. If you are drafting in standard rookie drafts, expect Dobbins to get some interest as early as the 1.03 and to go anywhere in between the 1.08.

Cam Akers

The Rams have found their replacement to Todd Gurley. As many were rushing around trying to trade for Darrell Henderson or Malcolm Brown, I suggested people to stay put as McVay was going to get his guy. Akers is a McVay guy– hard runner, good hands, and ultra elusive. This is another one of my favorite landing spots. I know that Akers has 2 RB to compete with for the starting job but I have no worry that he can’t beat them out.

Many people don’t like Cam Akers in 2020 because he will play behind the poor offensive line of the Los Angeles Rams. However, weren’t we all just praising Akers pre-draft for his production behind a poor offensive line? Yes, of course, it isn’t as easy running behind a poor offensive line in the NFL but Akers will still show promise. McVay has found a new centerpiece in his offense for the future, and I want every part of it. Akers should be drafted around the 1.09 to 1.12 in SuperFlex rookie drafts and between the 1.07 and 1.12 in standard rookie drafts.

AJ Dillon

Much like the Jordan Love pick, many Packers’ fans questioned the selection of AJ Dillon. I like the pick quite a bit. Aaron Jones was over-productive in 2019, and LaFleur realizes that. Aaron Jones is surely capable of being the workhorse back but come playoff time, Jones was all out of steam. Dillon has been compared to Derrick Henry and they have very similar running styles. LaFleur is the former OC of the Titans so it makes sense why he went out and got his “Derrick Henry”.

Aaron Jones will still play on his rookie contract in 2020 and they may let him hit the open market next summer. Jones has been the only consistent player in the running game for the Packers over the last few years. However, Jones may want a contract bigger than what the Packers are willing to offer. The Packers currently only have 10 million in cap space, and Jones’ current market value is 12 million a year. It is hard to know whether Jones will be signed back, so that is where Dillon comes in. Dillon is one of the better handcuffs to own and I think he will be used quite a bit in short-yardage and the red zone. Dillon in the mid to late 2nd in SuperFlex rookie drafts and can fall anywhere in between the 2nd round in standard rookie drafts.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn

It was highly anticipated for many if the Buccaneers would bring in an rookie RB to play alongside Tom Brady. Some have Vaughn rising their draft boards and some don’t think he will make an impact. Ronald Jones is the true difference-maker on whether Vaughn will make an impact or not. I see it this way, Ronald Jones was pulled twice in 2019 for Peyton Barber. If you are the true back in this Brady-led offense, you don’t get replaced by Peyton Barber.

Brady will get his say in this offense and Vaughn will be Brady’s guy. Vaughn has good speed through the tackles that allows him to get into the open field and make some moves. Brady will be the one moving the offense in 2020, but Vaughn may be used heavily in the passing game, much like James White. It is hard to know if Vaughn will be used in the red zone much because I feel RoJo will be better in that role. Vaughn has a large range of outcomes in his draft position. Vaughn can go anywhere between the 1.08 and 2nd round in SuperFlex rookie drafts. In standard rookie drafts, I have seen him go as early as the 1.07 and anywhere in between the 2nd round.

Here, check out my previous TE Rankings: 40-31, 30-21; 20-11, 10-1

Check out my Rookie Mock Draft 1.0 , 2.0 and Dynasty Rookie WR Rankings

Check out my Top 10 Dynasty RB & Top 10 Dynasty WR as well!

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